Letter: People often spread faith out of concern for others

Editor,

I am writing in response to Michael Tahani's letter to the Daily Lobo in Tuesday's paper, in which he said, "The problem with religion is that everyone thinks their religion is the right one."

I ask, who would subscribe to a religion they think to be the wrong one? Everyone subscribes to the worldview they believe to be right, whether it's religious or atheistic. Even the atheist believes the right view is that God does not exist.

Second, this objection would be better if phrased: The problem with religion is that every religion teaches that it is the right religion. This issue is legitimate.

However, that is not an issue confined only to religion. For instance, most businesses claim their product is "the best" version available, and even though we're sure it's not 100 percent true, that doesn't stop us from buying their product. But it also doesn't stop us from searching for the best product, and also telling our friends about it.

The problem I see is that we do not value truth and seek to know it. Tolerance sounds like such a noble value, but is it noble to tolerate what is false? Does a math professor tolerate the view that 1 + 1 = 57 just because he doesn't want his student to get angry with him?

Or, for another example, is it considered intolerant and unloving to tell a man who loves unhealthy food that he will have a heart attack if he doesn't change his diet? It could be, if done with an arrogant attitude, but not if done out of a sincere concern for his health.

Many religious people seek to spread their religion, not only because they believe it is the right one, but because they are concerned for the well-being of others.

Now, I will add that it is possible to be mistaken about what you believe. All religions cannot possibly be true. Every single person on this planet intrinsically knows this - though not all will admit it - and anyone who would claim otherwise is simply trying to find a metaphysical, philosophical, or ontological loophole so he or she does not have to turn from his or her evil deeds.

The problem is that we naturally love evil and would rather delude our minds so we can continue in our selfish ways, rather than face the truth, which is far more glorious and able to set us free. We all know God exists, whether we admit it, because he has written it on our hearts, and we would do well not to ignore him.

Scott Horlbeck

UNM graduate student